Annular infrared burner

ABSTRACT

An annular gas heating unit which surrounds the peripheral sidewall of the generator unit in an air-conditioning system to provide radiant heat to the generator. A combustible gas mixture is introduced tangentially into two separate plenum chambers of the heating unit to create a generally circular flow of gas therein to provide an even distribution of gas within the combustion chamber of the unit. The products of combustion are discharged through an annular exhaust section which also surrounds the generator unit of the air-conditioning system to provide additional heat by conduction and convection heat transfer to the generator unit.

United States Patent Morse et al.

[ 1 Jan. 18., 1972 [54] ANNTJLAR INFRARED BURNER [73] Assignee: Columbia Gas System Service Corporation, New York, NY.

[22] Filed: Apr. 20, 1970 [2]] Appl. No.: 30,102

3,190,823 6/1965 Bloxham ..431/7 X 3,076,605 2/1963 Holden ..43 1/7 X 2,895,544 7/1959 Parsons ..43 1/328 X Primary ExaminerEdward G. Favors Attorney-Curtis, Morris & Safford [57] ABSTRACT An annular gas heating unit which surrounds the peripheral sidewall of the generator unit in an air-conditioning system to provide radiant heat to the generator. A. combustible gas mix ture is introduced tangentially into two separate plenum chambers of the heating unit to create a generally circular flow of gas therein to provide an even distribution of gas within the combustion chamber of the unit. The products of combustion are discharged through an annular exhaust section which also surrounds the generator unit of the air-conditioning system to provide additional heat by conduction and convection heat transfer to the generator unit.

8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures aim PATENTED JAN! 83872 PEG. 2

[NV/5A.! 0R5 WlLLIAM F. MORSE EDWARD A. REID, JR.

ANNULAR INFRARED BURNER This invention relates to apparatus to supply heat to the generator unit of an air-conditioning system and in particular to a heating unit which supplies radiant heat to the generator unit of an air-conditioning system.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a uniform supply of radiant heat to the sidewalls of an air conditioner generator unit. It is a further object of this invention to provide a uniform distribution of gas to an infrared heater. Another object of the invention is to provide a heating device which is relatively simple and inexpensive to construct, and which is reliable in operation.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention, a generally annular radiant heating unit surrounds the generally cylindrical generator unit of a conventional air-conditioning system. The heater unit includes two outer annular gas distribution chambers and an inner annular combustion chamber separated by means of a foraminous radiant heating element. A combustible gas mixture is supplied to the distribution chambers by tangentially arranged mixing ducts and the combustible gas mixture is thus caused to flow in a generally circular path in each chamber. The gas flows from the distribution chambers through the foraminous element to the combustion chamber where it is ignited. The burning gas mixture heats the foraminous element to produce radiant heat which is directed against the sidewalls of the generator. The products of combustion are discharged from the combustion chamber in a vertical direction to supply additional heat to the generator by conduction and convection heat transfer and are then exhausted to the atmosphere. In the drawing:

FlG. l is a somewhat schematic elevational view with parts broken away of the preferred embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a plan view taken on line 22 ofFlG. 1.

Referring to the drawing, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a heating unit of the preferred embodiment of this invention which includes an air-conditioning generator 12, a radiant heating unit 14 and an exhaust section 16.

Generator 12 is that part of a conventional air-conditioning system to which heat must be added to operate the system. Heater unit 14 and exhaust section 16 are formed as annular members, as will be more fully described hereinafter, which surround the lower portion of the generally cylindrical generator 12 to supply heat through its peripheral sidewall 18 to the working fluid contained therein.

Heater unit 14 is formed as a generally cylindrical exterior member by means of a pair of semicylindrical panels 20 and 22. Each panel includes a vertically extending curved outer wall 24, upper and lower annular wall members 26 and 28, respectively, and vertically extending end walls 30 and 32, respectively, to define two separate plenum chambers 34 and 36, respectively.

Heater unit 14 is positioned on a base support unit 38 which includes a peripheral planar support surface 40 on which annular wall members 26 rest and a central recessed area 42 to accommodate the lower portion of generator 12. A vertically extending U-shaped clip 44 is provided between the spaced end walls 32 to assist in positioning the two plenum sections of the burner unit 14 in proper assembled relationship.

Substantially semicylindrical foraminous radiant heating elements 46 are positioned radially inwardly from panels 20 and 22 but spaced outwardly from sidewall 18 of generator 12 and are fixed to wall members 26 and 28 and end walls 30 and 32 of the two plenum elements ofheater unit 14.

Radiant heating elements 46, positioned in this manner, thus serve to define two arcuate gas distribution plenums or chambers 34, 36 in cooperation with panels 20 and 22 and an annular combustion chamber 48 in cooperation with sidewall 18 of generator 12. Gas delivered to chambers 34, 36 can thus enter combustion chamber 48 by flowing through heating element 46 where the gas is ignited to supply heat to a heating zone 50 within generator 12.

A combustible mixture of gas and air is supplied by any conventional mechanism, such as a venturi aspirator, to the distribution chambers 34, 36 through a gas supply duct 52 which communicates with a pair of branch mixing ducts 54 and 56 to supply the gas and air mixture to mixing chambers 34 and 36, respectively. Each panel 20 and 22 includes an aperture 55 through which delivery ducts 54 and 56 can deliver gas substantially tangentially into distribution chambers 34, 36. The tangential delivery of the combustible gas mixture creates a circular flow of gas in each chamber as the gas is deflected by panels 20 and 22 and thus provides an efficient and uniform distribution of gas throughout the chambers 34 and 36. it is noted that the radial width of chambers 34 and 36 are chosen so that gas is introduced therein at a sufficient distance from element 46 to prevent objectionable gas disturbances along the surface of the screen. Gas delivered to chambers 34, 36 is pressurized and flows through the foraminous elements 46 into the combustion chamber 48. Gas in combustion chamber 48 is ignited by any conventional mechanism, such as an electrical ignition assembly 58 which is mounted on the bight portion 60 of U-shaped clip 46. The ignition assembly has its i gnition coil 62 extending into the combustion chamber 48. The rate of gas flow through the apertures in element 46 is suffcient to prevent flashback therethrouglh into the chambers 34 and 36.

Elements 46 are formed from a material, such as 0.01 linch-diameter lnconel wire screen, which will produce infrared radiation when heated. Accordingly, as gas burns within chamber 48 elements 46 are heated to incandescence and direct radiant heat to the sidewall 18 of heater 12 to heat the working fluid contained therein.

The products of combustion formed within chamber 48 escape into exhaust section 16 through an annular opening 64 provided adjacent wall 18 to supply additional heat to the generator by conduction and convection heat transfer.

Section 16 is formed by a cylindrical housing wall 66 which surrounds a cylindrical ring of insulation material 68. Ring 68 is supported on annular wall 26 and defines an annular exhaust passageway 70 adjacent generator 12. Ring 68 extends upwardly to a point spaced from a top wall 70 to permit discharge of the products of combustion through ports 72 in wall 66.

Because of the tangential entrance of gas into chambers 34, 36, the gas-air mixture passes through element 46 into combustion chamber 48 where they are combusted and rise toward exhaust section 16. As these combustion products continue to rise through passageways 64 and 70, they give off additional heat to generator 12 by conduction and convection heat transfer. Additionally, the spiral flow of the combustion products insures more even distribution of the heat that is transferred by convection and conduction to generator 12. In addition, insulation ring 68 insures that a maximum amount of heat will be transferred to the generator and not lost to the surrounding environment before it can be efficiently used. By the time the combustion products reach the top of exhaust section 16, they have been substantially cooled and are then exhausted through ports 72 in wall 66.

The use of a radiating surface 46 in heating unit 114 insures that more heat is removed from the products of combustion before they are discharged from the device. it has been found that heat is more efficiently transferred to the generator 12 by infrared radiation than by mere conduction or convection since any problems involving skin effect" or poor conducting mediums are eliminated.

While two distribution chambers for the combustible gas-air mixture have been described and illustrated, it is foreseen that a greater number of generally arcuatelly shaped distribution chambers, each having a separate gas supply line, can be used in lieu thereof, and that even a singular annular distribution chamber may be used.

The above description of the invention is intended to be i1 lustrative only, and various changes and modifications in the embodiments described may occur to those skilled in the art.

These may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and thus it should be apparent that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated in the drawings.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for providing radiant heat to the generator unit of an air-conditioning system comprising, combustion chamber means surrounding the peripheral sidewall of said generator, gas distribution chamber means surrounding said combustion chamber means, means for supplying a combustible gas mixture to said distribution chamber means, a foraminous common wall means between said chamber means through which said gas mixture flows into said combustion chamber means from said distribution chamber means, said wall means being adapted to supply radiant heat to said generator upon combustion of gas in said combustion chamber means and means for removing the products of combustion from said combustion chamber means, said combustion chamber means having an opening adjacent said generator through which the products of combustion within said combustion chamber means escape and said means for removing said products of combustion comprises an exhaust chamber surrounding said generator having a gas discharge opening at its upper end and communicating at its lower end through said combustion chamber means opening with said combustion chamber means whereby said products of combustion are confined against said generator to supply heat thereto by conduction and convection as said products of combustion rise in said exhaust means for discharge therefrom.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said gas distribution chamber means are a plurality of arcuately shaped members and said combustion chamber means is an annular member and the inner wall of said gas distribution chamber means and the outer peripheral wall of said combustion chamber means define said common wall means.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for supplying gas to said distribution chamber means comprises a gas supply duct mounted on the peripheral wall of each of said arcuately shaped members defining said distribution chamber means to deliver gas tangentially into said distribution chamber means whereby a circular flow of gas is effected within said apparatus to evenly distribute gases within said distribution chamber means and said combustion chamber means.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said opening in said combustion chamber means adjacent said generator is an annular opening and said exhaust chamber means is a generally annular member.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said exhaust chamber means includes, an annular ring of insulating material therein adjacent its peripheral wall whereby a substantial portion of the heat of said products is transferred by conduction and convection to said generator before discharge through said discharge opening.

6. A device for heating the generator unit of an air-conditioning system comprising, first annular chamber means surrounding the peripheral sidewall of said generator including an annular combustion chamber therein, a plurality of arcuately shaped distribution chamber means surrounding the periphery of said first chamber means and including annular gas distribution chambers therein, means for supplying a combustible gas mixture into each of said distribution chamber means to effect flow of gases therein, a foraminous radiant heating element on the periphery of said chamber means adapted to provide gas communication from said distribution chambers into said combustion chamber, means mounted in said apparatus for igniting gases flowing into said combustion chamber whereby combustion of gas mixture in said combustion chamber heats said elements to supply radiant heat to said generator, and means communicating with said combustion chamber for discharging the products of combustion therefrom including a generally cylindrical exhaust means enclosing said generator and having an exhaust opening ad acent its top edge, whereby products of combustion discharged from said combustion chamber are confined within said cylindrical exhaust means adjacent said generator to provide heat to said generator by convection and conduction prior to discharge through said exhaust opening.

7. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein said generally cylindrical exhaust means includes an annular ring of thermal insulation material adjacent the inner surface of its peripheral wall, whereby products of combustion discharged from said combustion chamber are confined between said ring and said generator to provide heat to said generator by convection and conduction prior to discharge through said exhaust opening.

8. A radiant heating apparatus comprising in combination, an annular heating unit and a generally cylindrical air-conditioning generator unit having its base portion seated within said heating unit, whereby the heat is supplied from said heating unit through the peripheral sidewall of said generator, said heating unit including an annular combustion chamber means having an outer cylindrical wall formed of a foraminous material adapted to emit radiant heat when heated and defining a combustion chamber adjacent said generator sidewall, at least two arcuately shaped independent gas distribution chamber means mounted on and surrounding said combustion chamber means and defining independent gas distribution chambers communicating through said element with said combustion chamber, a gas supply duct mounted on the peripheral wall of each of said distribution chamber means for supplying a combustible gas mixture tangentially into each of said distribution chamber means to effect a generally circular flow of gases within said apparatus, means for igniting gases flowing into said combustion chamber from said distribution chamber and cylindrical exhaust means surrounding said generator mounted above said combustion chamber and communicating therewith, whereby combustion of said gas mixture in said combustion chamber heats said foraminous material to supply radiant heat to said generator and products of combustion discharged from said combustion chamber through said exhaust means are combined adjacent said generator to provide additional heat thereto by convection and conduction. 

1. Apparatus for providing radiant heat to the generator unit of an air-conditioning system comprising, combustion chamber means surrounding the peripheral sidewall of said generator, gas distribution chamber means surrounding said combustion chamber means, means for supplying a combustible gas mixture to said distribution chamber means, a foraminous common wall means between said chamber means through which said gas mixture flows into said combustion chamber means from said distribution chamber means, said wall means being adapted to supply radiant heat to said generator upon combustion of gas in said combustion chamber means and means for removing the products of combustion from said combustion chamber means, said combustion chamber means having an opening adjacent said generator through which the products of combustion within said combustion chamber means escape and said means for removing said products of combustion comprises an exhaust chamber surrounding said generator having a gas discharge opening at its upper end and communicating at its lower end through said combustion chamber means opening with said combustion chamber means whereby said products of combustion are confined against said generator to supply heat thereto by conduction and convection as said products of combustion rise in said exhaust means for discharge therefrom.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said gas distribution chamber means are a plurality of arcuately shaped members and said combustion chamber means is an annular member and the inner wall of said gas distribution chamber means and the outer peripheral wall of said combustion chamber means define said common wall means.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for supplying gas to said distribution chamber means comprises a gas supply duct mounted on the peripheral wall of each of said arcuately shaped members defining said distribution chamber means to deliver gas tangentially into said distribution chamber means whereby a circular flow of gas is effected within said apparatus to evenly distribute gases within said distribution chamber means and said combustion chamber means.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said opening in said combustion chamber means adjacent said generator is an annular opening and said exhaust chamber means is a generally annular member.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said exhaust chamber means includes, an annular ring of insulating material therein adjacent its peripheral wall whereby a substantial portion of the heat of said products is transferred by conduction and convection to said generator before discharge through said discharge opening.
 6. A device for heating the generator unit of an air-conditioning system comprising, first annular chamber means surrounding the peripheral sidewall of said generator including an annular combustion chamber therein, a plurality of arcuately shaped distribution chamber means surrounding the periphery of said first chamber means and including annular gas distribution chambers therein, means for supplying a combustible gas mixture into each of said distribution chamber means to effect flow of gases therein, a foraminous radiant heating element on the periphery of said chamber means adapted to provide gas communication from said distribution chambers into said combustion chamber, means mounted in said apparatus for igniting gases flowing into said combustion chamber whereby combustion of gas mixture in said combustion chamber heats said elements to supply radiant heat to said generator, and means communicating with said combustion chamber for discharging the products of combustion therefrom including a generally cylindrical exhaust means enclosing said generator and having an exhaust opening adjacent its top edge, whereby products of combustion discharged from said combustion chamber are confined within said cylindrical exhaust means adjacent said generator to provide heat to said generator by convection and conduction prior to discharge through said exhaust opening.
 7. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein said generally cylindrical exhaust means includes an annular ring of thermal insulation material adjacent the inner surface of its peripheral wall, whereby products of combustion discharged from said combustion chamber are confined between said ring and said generator to provide heat to said generator by convection and conduction prior to discharge through said exhaust opening.
 8. A radiant heating apparatus comprising in combination, an annular heating unit and a generally cylindrical air-conditioning generator unit having its base portion seated within said heating unit, whereby the heat is supplied from said heating unit through the peripheral sidewall of said generator, said heating unit including an annular combustion chamber means having an outer cylindrical wall formed of a foraminous material adapted to emit radiant heat when heated and defining a combustion chamber adjacent said generator sidewall, at least two arcuately shaped independent gas distribution chamber means mounted on and surrounding said combustion chamber means and defining independent gas distribution chambers communicating through said element with said combustion chamber, a gas supply duct mounted on the peripheral wall of each of said distribution chamber means for supplying a combustible gas mixture tangentially into each of said distribution chamber means to effect a generally circular flow of gases within said apparatus, means for igniting gases flowing into said combustion chamber from said distribution chamber and cylindrical exhaust means surrounding said generator mounted above said combustion chamber and communicating therewith, whereby combustion of said gas mixture in said combustion chamber heats said foraminous material to supply radiant heat to said generator and products of combustion discharged from said combustion chamber through said exhaust means are combined adjacent said generator to provide additional heat thereto by convection and conduction. 